This month, the Rosen Center shines a spotlight on Dr. Mikhail Shapiro, assistant professor of chemical engineering and Heritage Medical Research Institute Investigator. Shapiro and his research group engineer biomolecules with unusual physical properties and use them to image and control biological function non-invasively, e.g. using magnetic fields and sound waves. Projects in the lab encompass bioacoustics, biomagnetism, biophysics and biochemistry. Results from their recent work impact not only our fundamental understanding of chemical biology, but also provide the framework for the development of new tools for research, diagnostics and therapeutic applications. Two graduate students from the Shapiro group (Pradeep Ramesh and Robert Hurt) have been selected as trainees in the NIGMS-sponsored Biotechnology Leadership Predoctoral Training Program in Micro/Nanomedicine. The Rosen Center extends sincere congratulations to Shapiro on two notable achievements in 2016:
*Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering from the David and Lucille Packard Foundation – Shapiro was one of only 18 fellows selected after nomination by Caltech's president. Each Fellow receives a grant of $875,000 over five years to pursue their research.
*Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences – one of 22 exceptional early-career scientists selected, Shapiro received four years of flexible funding to pursue foundational, innovative research relevant to the advancement of human health.